Chapter 12

In the fragrance of the April locust flowers, a scent that is clear and refined, not vulgar. The beauty of the locust flowers is like clusters of white plum blossoms. Running through the locust forest, it felt as if one had truly found spring.

Deep in the forest, the man in black suddenly stopped, and the person behind him quickly caught up.

The moonlight was dim, but it was enough to see a few yards ahead. The man in black turned around and calmly looked at the mysterious follower. With just one glance, he frowned deeply. Standing opposite was a tall man, about twenty years old, with a strong and resolute face, his eyebrows slightly raised. His long hair was not tied up like others, but loosely bound, especially the hair behind his ears, which was white. The man's expression was very cold, his lips slightly curled, showing a hint of arrogance. He held a long sword with both hands, and his white robe made him look even more eerie in the dim moonlight.

One in black, one in white, they formed a stark contrast. The two men stared at each other silently for a long time before the man in black spoke first.

"Brother, what do you mean? We have never met, why are you following me?"

Hearing the man in black's words, the man in white planted his long sword on the ground and said in a rather indifferent tone, "A duel!"

The man in white's tone was indeed quite strange, as if speaking another word would tire him.

The man in black frowned even deeper. He didn't know when he had offended this odd person, who had come out of nowhere to challenge him to a duel. This was too unbelievable. More importantly, how did the man in white know he was skilled in martial arts? Thinking about this, the man in black subtly took a half-step back with his left foot and hid his right hand behind his back. He was very clear that his martial arts skills must not be revealed. If necessary, he would have to send the man in white to the underworld.

"A duel? How did you find me?"

"Someone told me!"

The same indifferent tone. The man in black felt a surge of irritability. He had heard of people who were frugal with words, but to be this frugal was truly something. Looking at the man in white, the man in black snorted with a hint of contempt. Could this odd person die from saying a few more words?

"Ha, do you know who I am?"

"Zhao Yougong!"

Hearing these three words, the man in black was clearly stunned. His eyes widened, as if he wanted to devour the man in white, his gaze fierce, and a thick aura of killing intent spread around.

Indeed, the man in black was Zhao Yougong. After Zhao Si was granted death, Zhao Yougong began to practice martial arts diligently under the guidance of an unnamed old man, never stopping for over a decade. However, all of this was kept secret. If it weren't for delivering something to Nian Nuer today, he would not have revealed his martial arts skills. Despite being cautious, something had still gone wrong. Was it his bad luck, or was it heaven's favor?

Since he had been recognized, Zhao Yougong no longer needed to hide. He chuckled and removed his black hood. Although he had not made any moves, his eyes still coldly locked onto the man in white.

"Since you recognize me, you cannot be spared. Tell me, who are you?"

Mastery of profound martial arts was almost Zhao Yougong's last asset. In case of any future emergencies, with these martial arts, he could still find a way out. But if this secret were to be revealed, he believed that within two hours, Emperor Zhezong would find a way to take his life. Leaning forward slightly, Zhao Yougong was ready to act at any moment. He was still waiting to see what the man in white would say.

"A duel!"

The man in white's tone was still arrogant, two words that made Zhao Yougong feel a deep-seated hatred.

"I asked you, who are you?"

"Defeat me, then we'll talk!"

A duel, a duel, was this man in white a martial arts fanatic or a fool? But looking at his handsome and elegant appearance, there was no sign of foolishness.

Since a duel was inevitable, and with the intent to kill, Zhao Yougong's tense face suddenly relaxed. However, this was a mistake. Although his face relaxed, his feet were ready to move, and his entire body shot forward like a bolt of lightning toward the man in white. Due to the close distance and Zhao Yougong's quick footwork, the man in white was slightly taken aback and frowned.

The man in white appeared relaxed, but he had been carefully observing Zhao Yougong's every move. Zhao Yougong's footwork was fast, but not incredibly so. What was most peculiar was that his footwork was very strange. Lightness in martial arts emphasizes agility and proper breathing. Whether it was the Daoist, Buddhist, or Free-and-Easy schools, their lightness techniques all followed a flexible path. However, Zhao Yougong's lightness technique was unconventional. His movements were powerful and forceful, contrary to the principles of lightness, but he moved in a zigzag pattern, which reduced the flaws in his footwork.

In an instant, Zhao Yougong was close to the man in white. He raised his left hand, fingers curled inward, and lunged at the man in white's right shoulder like a fierce tiger. Zhao Yougong's movements were not slow, but the man in white seemed unconcerned. He stepped to the side and easily dodged. Despite the fierce attack, the man in white did not relax, as he sensed that Zhao Yougong would not be so simple.

Indeed, before he could steady himself, the man in white felt a cool breeze by his ear. A quick glance told him that Zhao Yougong had appeared behind him on the right.

In a high-level duel, exposing one's side or back to the opponent is extremely dangerous. The man in white had foolishly forgotten this crucial point. In fact, it was not his fault, as Zhao Yougong's movements were too strange.

With his right hand, Zhao Yougong delivered a vicious palm strike to the man in white's neck. The man in white was startled but would not let Zhao Yougong succeed so easily. He leaned forward, falling to the ground like a log. Zhao Yougong would not miss this opportunity, stepping forward and delivering a punch to the man in white's waist. A person on the ground, no matter how skilled, could not avoid such a blow. Zhao Yougong believed that with his speed, he could definitely hit the man in white.

The blow was certain to land, but what was the result?

As the punch approached, Zhao Yougong felt a chill. The punch only hit air. Before his eyes, the man in white had escaped in an incredible manner. He had clearly seen that when the punch was about to land, the man in white had thrown his sword, slapped the ground with both hands, and then flown parallel to the ground, just a few inches above it. At that moment, the man in white's arms were spread wide, his clothes fluttering, like a light bird. Zhao Yougong felt he had seen a swallow, yes, a swallow gliding over the water in the warm spring, except this person was white, not black.

Having dodged the blow, the man in white slapped the ground again, leaping up and catching his sword in mid-air, then landing gracefully on the ground.

Zhao Yougong was stunned. What kind of monster was this man in white? What kind of lightness technique could achieve such a level? Even the Lingbo Step of the Free-and-Easy School was not this powerful. After this brief exchange, Zhao Yougong no longer dared to attack recklessly. He was now certain that defeating the man in white was almost impossible, at least for now. He had been the one attacking, while the man in white had mostly been dodging, yet he had not been able to harm the man in white at all.

Standing there, Zhao Yougong's mind flashed with several names: Qiao Feng? Murong Fu? Han Yongming? Jin Shilong?

Although he had lived in Bianliang for a long time, Zhao Yougong had heard of the martial arts world. Among the young generation, the most skilled were Qiao Feng in the north and Murong Fu in the south. Besides these two, there were Jin Shilong from Shu and Han Yongming from Guanzhong.

Jin Shilong was a commander in the imperial army, and Zhao Yougong had met him once, so the man in white could not be Jin Shilong. Han Yongming used a saber, Qiao Feng did not use weapons, so could this person be Murong Fu from Gusu?

As if reading Zhao Yougong's thoughts, the man in white gripped his sword and said with a sigh, "Very good. Among our young generation, you are the second person to give me such trouble, after Qiao Feng. To use the ordinary Shaolin Long Fist to such a degree is truly remarkable."

Zhao Yougong was genuinely surprised. From the man in white's tone, it seemed even Qiao Feng might not be his match. Thus, the possibility that he was Murong Fu was also slim.

"Who are you?"

Still the same question, and still no answer. The man in white smiled and casually placed his sword next to a locust tree, "A duel, this is fair!"

What the hell, at this moment, Zhao Yougong felt the man in white was a genuine martial arts fanatic, not pretending, but truly obsessed.

A duel was inevitable. The man in white's movements were graceful, his attacks fast and fierce. He alternated between punches and palm strikes, each move coming naturally, almost impossible to predict. The more he fought, the more excited the man in white became, which was a great challenge for Zhao Yougong. This was Zhao Yougong's first real combat, apart from practicing with his master, and he had not expected to face such a tough opponent.

Unconsciously, over a hundred moves had passed. Zhao Yougong was drenched in sweat and panting heavily. The man in white was not much better, his face red, his forehead covered in sweat, and his white hair sticking to his forehead. Continuing the fight would be futile, so Zhao Yougong suddenly roared. The roar was so sudden and loud that it stunned the man in white. His eyes narrowed, and just as he was about to ask, he saw Zhao Yougong's right hand move quickly downward.

Damn it, the man in white was almost furious, as Zhao Yougong's target was his groin. If this move succeeded, it would mean the end of his lineage. Filled with anger, the man in white had no choice but to jump back.

After a moment, the two men were at a distance. Before the man in white could say anything, Zhao Yougong collapsed to the ground, stretching his legs and panting, "No more, who are you?"

No more? The man in white frowned deeply, not expecting Zhao Yougong to stop so suddenly, "No more? You will die?"

"Heh heh," Zhao Yougong laughed disdainfully, "If you wanted to kill me, why did you put down your sword? Since you have no intention to kill, and neither of us can defeat the other with just our hands, why continue? Tell me, who are you?"

In this different Song dynasty, under this different sky, who else besides Qiao Feng and Murong Fu could have such skills?

;

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends